Original Research Article A Study to Assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Swine Flu

Aims & Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding swine flu among rural population of Kollam district, Kerala. Materials and methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out in March 2013 in the area around Azeezia Medical College, Meeyannoor (Dist. Kollam, Kerala). A total of 250 participants were included in the study by conventional sampling method from the 5 nearby villages. Results: A common symptom of Swine flu such as fever was known to 71.40 % while cough and cold were known to 62.40 % of the respondents. Other symptoms such as myalgia and headache were known to 39.40 % and 27.70 % of the participants respectively of them had heard of Swine flu and were aware of it as a disease entity. Knowledge regarding the route of transmission was concerned 4.69 % thought that swine flu spread by eating contaminated pork, 23.92 % through food and water, 8.44 % through mosquito bite and house flies. 56.33 % were aware of the fact that swine flu could spread by inhaling infected aerosols. Availability of treatment and vaccine against swine flu were known to 56.80 % and 55.86% respectively. Mass media (TV, Radio, newspaper) was found to be the most common source of knowledge regarding swine flu for 74.18 % of the respondents